Pencil



May 2, 1933. H. s. HAssELQUIsT 1,906,851

PENCIL Filed Feb. 25.- 1,922 2 Sheets-Sheet l a 32 JZ. 37

May 2, 1933.

"PENCIL Fild Feb. 25. 1922 2 Sheds-Sheet 2 Patented May 2, 1933 HUGO s. ssnranrs'r,

F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS PENCIL Application filed February 23, 1922. Serial No. 538,426.

leads without the necessity of ire-loading the projecting mechanism upon the full projection of each lead; which is provided with double-acting lead-controlling means serving both to advance the lead and to clamp the same in its adjusted position; which is provided with means to prevent injury to ythe lead-controlling means or to the lead through incorrect manipulation; and which is characterized by a light inexpensive construction peculiarly suitable for employment in pencils of extremely short as well as long length.

While the foregoing statement is indicative in a general way of the nature of the invention, other objects and advantageous features not specifically referred to in this disclosure will be obvious upon a full understanding of the construction and operation of the pencil as set forth in the follow ing description and accompanying drawings wherein is delineated a preferred embodi* ment .of the invention; lt will be understood, however, that this particular embodiment is chosen primarily for the purpose of exemplifcation, 'and is not intended to restrict in any way the spirit of the invention or to limit unnecessarily the scope of the appended claims.

lin the drawings,

Fig. l is a side elevation of the pencil;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section through the front portion of the pencil;

Fig. 3 is a similar section through the rear portion of the same;

Fig. a is a transverse section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a detailed side elevation. of the lead feed tube;

Fig. 6 is a transverse section on 6 6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a detailed side elevation of the the line i feed finger unit;

Fig. 8 is a front view thereof;

Fig. 9 is adetailed sideelevation of the feed sleeve;

Fig. 10 is a rear vi`ew thereof; and

Fig. 11 is a detailed perspective of the feed nut. l 80 Referring now with more particularity to the drawings, it will be seen in Figs. 2

cand 3 that the pencil assembly consists principally of a barrel 10, a closure cap 11 at the rear end thereof, a ferrule 12 at the front end thereoffa lead feed tube 13 disposed axially of the barrel and projecting from the front end thereof into thc ferrule, lead-controlling mechanism 14 contained within the ferrule and operatively associated 70 with that portion of the lead feed tube projecting thereinto, and a lead magazine 15 positioned in the rear portion of the barrel in communication with the lead feed tube.

The leads 1e which are used in the pencil t5 are stored in the magazine 15, and are auto-4 matically fed therefrom, one by one, into the adjacent open end of the lead feed tube 13 through a conical annulus 17 which is tapered at an angle of approximately o and serves to gravitate the ends of the leads in the magazine to its apertui'ed center when the pencil is held at an angle to the horizontal as when in use. -While it is clearly evident that the magazine-15 will hold in reserve a large number of leads, only two leads-one of which is just entering the lead feed tube-are shown in the magazine in order that an unobstructed view of the magazine andk adjacent lead feed tube construction may be had. No uniformity in the lengths of the leads is necessary, short and long leads being handled in an equally eiiicient manner by the pencil.

The barrel 10 of the pencil lis made of wood, composition or any other material, and is provided axially thereof with a. small 'bore 18 which is enlarged at its rear end into a long bore 19 constituting the magazine and -at its front end into a short bore to@ 20 for a purpose hereinafter made apparent. The outer periphery of the barrel is reduced at its rear end for frictionally seating thereover the cap 11 and at its front end for j ournalling the ferrule 12 and a certain portion of the lead-controlling mechanism rigidly carried thereby. The small bore 18 in the barrel contains the lead feed tube 13 which is preferably triangular in cross-section.r The tube 13 fits snugly within the bore and is secured in position by shellac or other suitable means. The spaces remaining in the bore between the cylindrical sides thereof and the flat sides of the tube may be either left open or filled with some substance 21 such as cement or composition of which the barrel is made.

The closure cap 11 fits, as stated, over the rear end of the barrel 10, and serves both to close the lead magazine 15 and to support a rearwardly extending eraser 22. For the purpose of properly holding the eraser against displacement the cylindrical body of the cap 11 is provided with a deep constriction 23 to abut against the barrel end on one side and the eraser end on the other and with a shallow constriction 24 to grip the eraser intermediate its ends.

The ferrule 12 is characterized by a cylindrical portion 25 which has the same outside diameter as the barrel and tapers gradually at an angle of approximately 7 to a tip at the front end of the pencil. The conical wall 26 of the ferrule increases in thickness as it approaches the tip, thereby permitting the formation in the tip of a short bore 27 disposed coaxially with the triangular lead feed tube 13 and the barrel 10. This bore is of such size as to fit snugly around a lead and guide the same as it is projected from the tip of the ferrule by the lead-controlling mechanism.

The triangular lead feed tube13, which ,is shown in Figs. 5 and 6, is of such size that an imaginary inscribed circle tangential to its side walls would be of slightly larger diameter than the lead adapted to pass therethrough whereby a loose fitting guideway for the leads is provided. That portion of the tube 13 projecting forwardly from the front end of the barrel 10 terminates just short of the rear end of the bore 27 in the tip of the ferrule. The bore 27 is countersunk at 28 in order to decrease to a minimum the gap between the front end of the tube 13 and the rear end of the said bore. At a point about half way between the front end of the barrel 10 and the front end of the tube 13 each flat side of the tube has cut thereinto an elongated rectangular slot 29. The front ends of these slots are provided with small outwardly turned tongues 30 which are bent at an angle of approximately 45 to the axis of the tube. From these tongues forwardly the lead feed in order to exert inwardly on the lead a slight pressure sufficient to hold the same frictionally against gravitational movement when lnot otherwise held.

The lead-controlling mechanism 14 associated with that portion of the lead feed tube extending forwardly from the barrel of the pencil consists of a feed finger unit 33, a feed sleeve 34, and a feed nut 35. This mechanism functions to feed the lead forwardly and clamp the same in its adjusted position, and operates through rotary motion of the ferrule 12. The means for freely permitting rotary motion of the ferrule While preventing axial movement thereof will be described later.

The feed finger unit 33, which is shown in Figs. 7 and 8, comprises a band portion 36 of triangular cross-section and three resilient lead-engaging feed ngers 37 which are formed integral with the band portion and project from the flat surfaces at one end thereof. The band portion 36 is adapted to fit snugly around the lead feed tube 13 whereby to move axially thereof with a slight amount of friction. The portion 36 is split along one side 38 in order to provide means for readily imparting to the portion the amount of friction desired at the time when the pencil is assembled. The feed fingers are triangular in side elevation and project through the slots 29 lin the lead feed tube 13; the bottom or lead gripping portions 39 being transversely concave to fit snugly against the cylindrical surface of the lead 16 within the tube, the front portions 40 being inclined rearwardly at an angle of approximately 45 to cam against the tongues 30 at the front end of the slots in the lead feed tube, and the rear portions being inclined forwardly at an angle of approximately 20 to the axis of the pencil for a purpose hereinafter explained. A small lip 42 projects outwardly from the rear end of the band portion 36 of the feed finger unit.

The feed sleeve 34, which is shown in Figs. 9 and 10, consists of a cylindrical member 43 which is externally screw-threaded for a portion of its length at 44, and is constricted into triangular cross-section at its rear end 45 to fit around the lead feed tube 13 to the rear of the slots 29 therein. A small lip 46 is bent inwardly from the sleeve 34 intermediate its ends to co-act with the lip 42 of the feed finger unit. The sleeve 34 projects forwardly over the feed finger unit, and at its front inner edge 47 is adapted to cam against the surfaces 41 of the feed fingers 37, as shown in Fig. 2.

lt will be appreciated from the interfitting triangular constructions of the lead feed tube 13, the feed finger unit 33 and the feed sleeve 34, that the feed fingers and sleeve are adapted to move axially of the lead feed tube but are prevented from rotary movement thereon.

The feed nut 35 is formed as a cylindrical portion 48 which is rigidly secured within the larger portion of the ferrule 12 and has a plurality of resilient tongues 49 projecting forwardly and inwardly therefrom as shown in Fig. 11.

These tongues are threaded at 50 on their inner front edges, and engage within the threads 44 of the feed sleeve 34. The rea'r end of the feed nut is provided with a plurality of inwardly turned lips 51 which spring into an annular groove 52 on the barrel 10 when the pencil is assembled and thereafter` prevent axial movement of the nut 35 and ferrule 12 without in any way interfering with their rotary movement.

The operation of the lead-controlling mechanism will now be explained. In Fig. 2 this mechanism is shown with the aXiali y movable feed fingers and feed sleeve in their forward positions. It will be noted that in these positions the feed fingers are clamped tightly against the lead 16 by the camming actions both of the tongues 30 located on the lead feed tube and of the front inner edge of the feed sleeve. The angle at which the tongues 3() bear inwardly on the feed fingers is such that the fingers will release y therefrom automatically upon the withdrawal rearwardly of the feed sleeve, and the angle at which the edge of the feed sleeve bears inwardly on the feed fingers is such that forward movement of the sleeve when the sleeve and feed fingers are in their rearward positions will serve to spring the fingers inwardly into clamping engagement' with the lead before moving the fingers forwardly therewith. It will also be noted that in the forward positions of the feed fingers and feed sleeve shown in Fig. 2 the lip 46 of the sleeve is not in contact with the cog acting lip 42 of the finger unit.

Assuming that the lead 16 is tightly clamped in the pencil, as shown in Fig. 2, and that the exposed portion of the lead has been worn down, it is merely necessary in order to expose more of the lead that to the ferrule. The rotary twist given the ferrule functions, in the manner hereinafter described, both to feed the lead forwardly and then to clamp it in its adjusted position.

As the ferrule is rotated to the left the threads of the feed nut 35 move the feed sleeve rearwardly. As soon as the front inner edge of the sleeve withdraws rearwardly from the feed finger the feed fingers spring outwardly, due to their own resiliency, to a position free of the tongues 30 located on the lead feed tube. As the sleeve continues to withdraw rearwardly the lip 46 thereof engages the lip 42 of the feed finger unit and the feed fingers then move rearwardly with the sleeve but out of contact, of course, with the lead which remains in its former position due to the frictional grip thereon of the slotted front end of the lead feed tube.

The slight frictional bearing of the feed finger unit on the lead feed tube, which was referred to in the description of the said unit, is for the purpose of obviating any chance of the feed fingers moving rearwardly in their depressed positions with the initial rearward movement of the sleeve and thereby causing the lead on which the fingers are clamped to move rearwardly also.

Another purpose of this frictional bearing is to insure that the fingers are clamped against the lead before commencing to move forwardly in the manner hereinafter described.

When the ferrule is now rotated in the opposite direction into its ultimately tight position the feed sleeve is moved forwardly and cams the feed fingers inwardly into a firm clamping engagement with the lead. The feed ngers and lead then move forwardly as a unit to a point where the front ends of the fingers engage with the tongues 30 of the tube and are locked in a wedged position between the tongues, the sleeve and the lead, thereby preventing further rotation of the `ferrule in that direction.

If too great a pressure is exerted in tightening the ferrule in its locked position the feed nut acts as a safety device and the tonnes 49 will spring outwardly over the threads 44 if the sleeve is already advanced as far as it is adapted to go. This construction prevents any danger of injury to the mechanism through rough manipulation and also prevents any crushing of the lead which might occur were too much pressure allowed to be brought theeagainst by the said fingers.

elements might also be constructed in square,

' low the second, the leads feeding automatically, one by one, from the magazine to the feed tube as the lead-controlling mechanism is operated to project from the point of the pencil the foremost lead. It will be appreciated that by the employment of this arrangement the entire supply of leads contained in the feed tube and magazine may be projected from the pencil by the lead-controlling mechanism without any re-loading or adjusting operation.

I claim:

l. In a mechanical pencil, a feed tube for leads, a plurality of feed fingers adapted to move longitudinally thereof and having the front portions of their outer surfaces forwardly inclined and the rear portions of their outer surfaces rearwardly inclined, longitudinally movable means co-acting with y said rear portions and adapted on forward movement first to cam the fingers radially into engagement with a lead and then to feed the fingers and lead forwardly as a unit, and stationary means adapted to press the fingers into tighter engagement with the lead upon the same reaching its forwardly adjusted position.

2. In a mechanical pencil, a feed tube for leads, a plurality of feed fingers adapted to move longitudinally thereof and hav-ing the front portions of their outer surfaces forwardly inclined and the rear portions of their outer surfaces rearwardly inclined, longitudinally movable means co-acting with said rear portions and adapted on forward movement first to cam the fingers radially into engagement with a lead and then to feed the fingers and lead forwardly as a unit and on rearward movement first to permit the fingers to release from the lead and then to move the fingers rearwardly into position to re-engage the lead at a different point longitudinally thereof, and abutments on the tube adapted to press the fingers into tighter engagement with the lead upon the same reaching its forwardly adjusted position.

3. In a mechanical pencil, a feed tube for leads, a plurality of feed fingers adapted to move longitudinally thereof and having the rear portions of their outer surfaces rearwardly inclined, longitudinally movable means co-acting with said rear portions and adapted on forward movement first to cam the fingers radially into engagement with a lead and then to feed the fingers and lead forwardly as a unit, and exteriorly accessible means adapted on rotation to impart longitudinal movement in either direction to the said longitudinal means.

4. In a mechanical pencil, a feed tube for leads, a feed finger unit including a band portion adapted to encompass said tube to move longitudinally thereof with a slight amount of friction and feed fingers carried by the band and adapted to move into engagement with a lead contained in the tube, a feed sleeve having a constricted portion adapted to encompass said tube to move longitudinally thereof and a cylindrical portion projecting forwardly about 'said feed finger unit, means to prevent angular movement ofthe feed finger unit and sleeve on the tube, and means for' moving said sleeve longitudinally of the tube comprising a worm on the sleeve and a rotatable nut coacting therewith.

5. In a mechanical pencil, a feed tube for leads, a feed finger unit including a band portion adapted to encompass said tube to move longitudinally thereof with a slight amount of friction and feed ngers carried by the band and adapted to move into engagement with a lead contained in the tube, a feed sleeve having a constricted portion adapted to encompass said tube to move longitudinally thereof and a cylindrical portion projecting forwardly about said feed finger' unit, means to prevent angular movement of the feed finger unit and sleeve on the tube, and means for moving said 'sleevelongitudinally of the tube comprising a worm on the sleeve and a rotatable nut coacting therewith, said nut having resilient thread-carrying tongues adapted to release from the worm when a predetermined resistance is offered to rotary movement thereof.

6. In a mechanical pencil, a triangular feed tube for leads, a feed finger unit including a triangular bland portion adapted to encompass said tube to move longitudinally thereof with a slight amount of friction and feed fingers carried by the band along each side of the tube and adapted to move into engagement with a lead contained in the tube, a feed sleeve having a constricted triangular portion adapted to encompass said tube to move longitudinally thereof and a cylindrical portion projecting forwardly,V about said feed finger unit, and means for moving said sleeve longitudinally of the tube comprising a worm on the sleeve and a rotatable nut co-acting therewith, said nut having resilient thread-carrying tongues adapted to release from the worm when a predetermined resistance is offered to rotary movement thereof in either direction.

7. In a mechanical pencil, a feed tube for leads, a feed finger unit including a band portion adapted to encompass said tube to move longitudinally thereof with a slight amount of friction and feed lingers carried by the band and adapted to move into engagement with a lead contained in the tube, a feed sleeve adapted to encompass said tube to move longitudinally thereof and having a cylindrical portion projecting forward about said feed finger unit, and means for moving said sleeve longitudinally of the tube.

8. In a mechanical pencil, longitudinally movable lead-feeding means, resiliently yieldable means tending to hold the leadfeeding means out of frictional engagement with a lead in the pencil, a longitudinally movable member coacting on forward movement with the lead-feeding means first to press the lead-feeding means into frictional engagement with the lead and then to move the lead-feeding means and the lead forwardly as a unit, and eXteriorly accessible means to move the member longitudinally.

9. In a mechanical pencil, a plurality of outwardly spring-pressed and longitudinally movable lead-feeding elements, longitudinally movable means coacting on forward movement with the lead-feeding elements first to press the lead-feeding elements into frictional engagement with a lead in the pencil and then to move the elements and the lead forwardly as a unit, and exteriorly accessible means to move the said means longitudinally.

10. In a mechanical pencil, a plurality of outwardly spring-pressed and longitudinally movable lead-feeding elements, a longitudinally movable member wedging on forward movement against the lead-feeding elements first to press the elements into frictional engagement with a lead in the pencil and then to move the elements and the lead forwardly as a unit, and exteriorly accessible means to move the member longitudinally.

11. In a mechanical pencil, a plurality of non-rotatable longitudinally ,movable feedfingers engageable with a lead in the pencil, longitudinally movable means wedging on forward movement against the feed-fingers first to move the fingers radially of the lead into frictional engagement, then to move the lead-feeding means and the lead forwardly as a unit, and then to maintain the fingers and the lead in their forwardly adjusted position, and exteriorly accessible means rotatable to move the feed means longitudinally.

12. In a mechanical pencil a lead guideway, a reservoir communicating with the guideway to permit leads to feed one by one from the reservoir into the guideway, a plurality of outwardly spring-pressed feedfingers positioned intermediate the ends of the guideway for feeding a lead through the same, a longitudinally movable member also positioned intermediate the ends of the guideway and wedging on forward Inovement against the feed fingers first to press the fingers into frictional engagement with a lead in the guideway and then to move the fingers and the lead forwardly as a unit in the guideway, and exteriorly accessible means intermediate the ends of the guideway rotatable to move the member longitudinally.

13. In a mechanical pencil a feed-tube for leads, a plurality of feed-fingers associated with the tube, longitudinally movable means coacting on forward movement with the feed fingers for first moving the fingers radially into engagement with a lead and then moving the fingers and lead forwardly said first mentioned means for pressing the fingers into tighter engagement with the lead upon the same reaching its forwardly adjusted position.

14. In a mechanical pencil, a feed tube for leads, a plurality of longitudinally movable feed-fingers projecting inwardly through slots in the tube for engagement with a lead therein, and means on the tube coacting with the feed-fingers to press the same into tighter engagementwith the lead as a unit, and other means coacting with upon the same reaching its forwardly adjusted position.

'15. In a mechanical encil, a feed-tube for leads, a pluralit o feed-fingers movable longitudinally t ereof and having rear portions of their outer surfaces rearwardly inclined, longitudinally movable means coacting on forward movement with said rear portions first to cam the fingers radially into engagement with a lead in the pencil and then to move the fingers and lead forwardly as a unit, and eXteriorly accessible means rotatable to move the longitudinally movable means first in one direction and then the other.

16. In a mechanical pencil, mea-ns operable to grip and advance the lead and to hold the lead firmly against retraction in its advanced position, and means operable in one direction to advance the gripping means and operable in the opposite direction to retract the same, said operating means being effective when advanced to re- L tain the gripping means in advanced position and in firm gripping engagement with the lead, and being constructed to move out of engagement with the lead when retracted.

17. In a mechanical pencil, a plurality of longitudinally and radially movable feed-fingers, a longitudinally movable member operable to move the fingers radially into firm frictional engagement with a lead in the pencil and to move the fingers longitudinally while in such engagement, and exsob teriorly accessible means connected with the member to move the same longitudinally whereby to Operate the fingers.

18. In a mechanical pencil, a lead tube, a longitudinally movable feed-finger unit having a tube-eiicircling portion and a plurality of outwardly spring-pressed feedfingers integral with said portion, a longitudinally movable sleeve telescopically associated with said feed-finger unit and operable upon movement relative thereto to cam the feed-fingers inwardly -into firm frictional engagement with a lead in the pencil, and eXteriorly accessible means connected with the sleeve to move the same longitudinally whereby to impart corresponding movement to the feed-fingers while in frictional engagement with the lead.

19. In a mechanical pencil, a plurality of ieciprocally movable elements, a reciproca-lly movable member operable at one point in its cycle of movement to wedge said elements into' f'rictional engagement with a lead in the pencil and operable at another point in its cycle of movement to advance said elements and lead as a unit, and eX- teriorly accessible means connected with said member and operable to effect movement of the same.

20. In a mechanical pencil, a plurality of reciprocally movable elements, a reciprocally movable member operable at one point in its cycle of movement to wedge said elements into frictional engagement with a lead in the pencil and operable at another point in its cycle of movement to advance said elements and lead as a unit, and eXteriorly accessi-ble means connected with said member and operable whenrotated to effect movement of the same.

21. In a mechanical pencil, a plurality of longitudinally movable feed-fingers, a longitudinally movable member for operating said feed-fingers to advance a lead through the pencil, said member serving to hold said feed-fingers in tight frictional engagement with the lead when the pencil is in service, and e'xteriorly accessib`lemeans for imparting longitudinal movement to said mem- 22. In a mechanical pencil, a plurality of longitudinally movable 1feed-fingers, a longitudinally movable member for operating said feed-fingers to advance a lead through the pencil, said member in its forward position serving to hold said feed-fingers in tight frictional engagement with thel lead when the pencil is in service, and exteriorly accessible means for imparting longitudinal movement to said member.

23. In a mechanical pencil, longitudinally movable lead-feeding means, a longitudinally movable member coacting on forward movement with the lead-feeding means first to press the lead-feeding means into frictional engagement with the lead, then to move the lead-feeding means and the lead forwardly as a unit, and then to maintain When at-the end of its forward movement the lead feeding means and the lead firmly against retraction to permit use of the lead in such forwardly adjusted position, and exterioily accessible means to move the member longitudinally. g

24. In a step-by-step pencil mechanism, the combination of a plurality of reciprocable lead propelling grippers provided with jaws arranged foi' the reception of lead therebetween, means to reciprocate said grippers, and means to impart to said grippers a jaw-separating movement of definite extent at predetermined periods in the operation of the mechanism.

25. In a step-by-step pencil, the combination of a casing, a lead-gripping and -feeding unit reciprocable within said casing and comprising a plurality of leadgripping jaws, a member fiXedly connected with said casing and formed with an inclined surface in the path of movement of said gripping unit for causing a lead-gripping action by said jaws.

26. In a mechanical pencil, a casing having relatively rotatable front and rear sections, a lead-guiding tube which is located in the front section in spaced relation to the sides of the latter, a lead-holding reservoir which occupies the rear section of the casino' and is provided with a centrally apertured conical front end which opens into the rear end of the tube and allows the leads in the reservoir to gravitate one after the other into the tube, a lead-advancing member which is housed in the space between the tube and the front section of the casing and.

is movable longitudinally of the tube and also radially thereof through a slot in one side of the tube, means for causing the member when moved forwardly to engage with a lead from the reservoir and feed the same forwardly through the tube, means for causing the member when moved rearwardly to also move radially out of lead-engaging position, and a motion-converting connection between the member and the casing for moving the member forwardly when one section of the casing is rotated in one direction with respect to the other section and for moving the member rearwardly when the same section is rotated in the opposite direction.

27. In a mechanical pencil, a casing having relatively rotatable front and rear sections, a lead-guiding tube which is stationary with respect to the -rear section and extends forwardly into the front section in spaced relation to the sides of the latter, a lead-holding reservoir which is formed in the rear section and is provided with a centrally apertured conical front end which opens into the rear end of the tube and allows the leads in the reservoir to gravitate one after the other into the tube, a leadadvancing` member which is housed in the space between the tube and Athe front sec- -tion of the casing and is movable longitudinally of the tube .and also radially thereof through a slot in one side of the tube, means for causing the member when moved forwardly to engage with a lead from the reservoir and kfeed the same forwardly through the tube, means for causing the member when moved' rearwardly'to also move radially out of lead-engaging position, and a motion-converting connection between the member and the front section of the casing for moving the member forwardly when the section is rotated in one direction and rearwardly when the section is rotated in the opposite direction.

28. In a step-by-step pencil, the combination of a lead-gripping and feeding unit, means to reciprocate sald unit and to cause the same to grip and release a lead, and means for retarding upward and downward movement of said gripping unit until releasing or gripping action has been imparted tothe unit.

29. In a step-by-step pencil, the combination of a casing, a lead-gripping and feeding unit reciprocable longitudinally within said casing and including a plurality of lead-gripplng jaws, means for moving the unit longitudinally to cause the jaws to advance the lead, and a member fixedly connected with said casing within the latter and formed with an inclined surface in theJ path of movement of said unit for causing a lead-gripping action of said jaws.

30. In a mechanical pencil, a casing, a lead-guiding tube in the casing provided with a longitudinally extending slot in one side thereof, a lead-engaging member which operates through the slot and is movable both longitudinally and radially with respect to the tube, exteriorly accessible means 'for moving the member longitudinally, means for causing th member automatically to move outwardly in connection with its rearward movement, and means for causing the member automatically to move inwardly in connection with its forward movement whereby to engage with and advance a lead during its forward movement.

31. lln a mechanical pencil, means operable to engage and advance a lead and to hold the lead against retraction when in writing position, and means operable in one direction to advance the lead-engaging means and operable in the opposite direction to retract the same, said last mentioned means including a one-way screw power-transmitting connection which locks to. resist backward movement of the lead and lead-engaging means when pressure is applied to the vfront end of the lead, ando said lead-engaging means being constructed to move out of engagement with the lead when retracted.

32. A pencil having, in combination, a body provided with an axial bore which extends through its lower end, a tip mounted for rotation at the lower end of the pencil, there being an enclosed space interiorly of the tip and lower end of the body, and means for propelling a lead through the bore and out through the tip extremity comprising a guide tube within the bore adapted to slidingly receive a lead, a member connected with the tube and having operative connection both with the body and tip such that with relative rotation therebetween the member is reciprocated, and a lead-engaging device associated with the reciprocable member adapted to be engaged thereby with each downward movement thereof, said device when sol engaged serving to grip the lead to advance the same through the tip, substantially as described. f

33. A. pencil having, in combination, a body to which is connected a rotatable tip, there being an axial bore in the lower body end in which a lead may be slidingly received, and propelling mechanism for the lead arranged ,interiorly of the tip including a member having a connection therewith and with the body such as to be reciprocated when the tip is rotated relative to the body, said mechanism including also a lead-engaging device adapted to be engaged by said reciprocable member on ,its downward movements only and when so engaged to grip the lead to Vfeed the same -through the tip,

substantially as described.

34. A pencil having, in combination, a body with which is associated a hollow rotata-ble tip, there being 'formed in the lower end of the body a chamber in communication with the space interiorly of the tip, means for guiding a lead through movements axially of the pencil and out through the tip, and lead-propelling mechanism adapted to be operated with relative rotation between the tip and body, said mechanism including a reciprocable member having operative connection both with the body and tip, a reciprocable lead-engaging device adapted to be engaged by the member only during the downward movements thereof, and when so engaged to feed the lead in a like direction, and means whereby said lead-engaging device is released from engagement with the member with each upward movement thereof, substantially as described.

35. A. pencil having, in combination, a body through the lower end of which is formed an axial bore, a hollow tip connected for rotation with the lower end of the body, a reciprocable member having an operative connection both with the body and tip such that relative rotation therebetween will cause up and down movements of the member, a wedge surface on said member, a lead-engaging device adapted to be engaged by said wedge surface when the member is moved in a downward direction, and other means for disengaging said device from the wedge surface with upward movement of said member, substantially as described.

36. A pencil having, in combination, a body with which is associated a rotatable hollow tip, there being means for guiding a lead through the body and tip, and a leadpropelling mechanism including a lnember operatively connected both with the body and tip in a manner to be reciprocated with movement of the one relative to the other, and a device associated with said member adapted with movement thereof in one direction to laterally grip the lead to advance the same through the pencil, substantially as' described.

37. In a mechanical pencil, a. lead tube having longitudinally extending slots therein, a relatively movable feed-linger unit having a tube-encircling portion and a plurality of outwardly spring-pressed feed-fingers carried by said portion for operation in said Slots, a sleeve telescopically associated with said unit and operable upon relative longitudinal movement to cam the feed-fingers inwardly into firm rictional engagement with a lead in the pencil, and eXteriorly accessible means for effecting relative longitudinal movement between the tube, unit and sleeve.

38. In a mechanical pencil, a lead tube having longitudinally extending slots therein, a relatively movable feed-linger unit having a tube-encircling portion and a lurality of outwardly spring-pressed feedngers carried by said portion for operation in said slots, a sleeve telescopically associated with said unit and operable upon relative longitudinal movement to cam the feed-fingers inwardly into firm rictional engagement with a lead in the pencil, and eXteriorly accessible means for effecting relative longitudinal movement between the tube, unit and sleeve, said tube-encircling portion of the unit being so constructed as to frictionally grip the tube with sufhcient resistance to prevent relative longitudinal movement between the unit and tube while the feedfingers are being cammed inwardly by the sleeve.

39. In an automatic pencil, a lead tube, means for yieldingly resisting expulsion of the lead from the front end of the tube, a. coaXially arranged feed-finger unit which is capable of longitudinal movement relative to the tube and is provided with a plurality of radially movable lead-engaging fingers, a

HUGO S. HASSELQUIST. 

